Tiny Series | Wifey

If you know me, you know how obsessed with Bon Appétit I am. The podcast, the magazine, the Instagram. It's all good. Since their HQ is in NYC, they post about a lot of delicious hidden gems in the city. Wifey BK was one of those gems, and luckily I have some friends who are equally concerned about the aesthetics of their coffee shop who came with me to check it out.

It's part coffee shop, part art gallery, and part impeccable floral display, all beautiful. Owned by two artists, Simone Shubuck and Janine Foeller, it's housed in a minimalist chic industrial sort of building in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn. I've only lived here a couple of months and have already taken many friends here. It's just one of those really good vibe, beautiful environment type of places. Very cool, but everyone is very kind.

Every detail seems attended to, from the tree stump seating, to the artfully scrawled menus, and colorful cheer. Every corner is more photogenic than the last.

I adore all the handmade china and the feeling that you're inside an artist's studio. The whole place is expressive, through the art, the gorgeous florals, and the ever-changing menu. If you find yourself in Park Slope anytime soon (this place is only temporary...), check it out for yourself.

Holiday 2017

It's only November 17th, but New York already feels like Christmas is here. There's even LED snowflakes hanging from the elevated subways in my usually un-festive neighborhood! I'm so excited to actually be living here for the holiday season. The first time I ever visited New York was just a few days before Christmas at age 14, so this time of year here has always felt magical. As a girl who's been devoted to watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every. single. year. since I can remember, walking past Herald Square the other day and seeing them prep for the performances was a little bit magical too. If only the Rockettes had been there too...sigh. 

Anyway, since I'm very much in the holiday spirit, and all I can think about is going home for Thanksgiving next week, I thought I'd share my holiday wishlist. I tend to just buy myself the things that I want, and ask for more practical gifts for Christmas that I hate spending money on (an arsenal of black tights & leggings, my favorite shampoo, art supplies like Micron pens and quality scissors, etc.). But here are some of my top choices of things I have had my eye on. Links below!

1. Plaid Coat // my coat collection continues to grow with my move up north, and I would love to add this checked number to my collection! | 2. Signet Ring // you can find these all over Etsy and many sites with a quick google search, they're classic and old school, and I've always loved chunky rings | 3. Reformation Blouse // one of my fave stores to lust after, all of their tops are to die for, I'd take this one in all three colors and prints it comes in! | 4. Staud Bucket Bag // I've wanted this for a few months, but practical purchases like rent and salad always come first... | 5. Faux Mink Stole // j'adore scarves, and this one would be so fun with a camel coat | 6. Snakeskin Chelsea Boots // I saw a girl wearing these the other day and haven't stopped thinking about them! These ones are pretty affordable too! | 7. Aesop anything // One of my obsessions is beautiful bath goods, lotions, serums, body wash, any tiny luxury, and Aesop has some great gift sets out for the holidays! | 8. Beret // I may or may not already have one on order... | 9. Sparkly socks // Madewell has many adorable socks this season, I've been loving them with sneaks, loafers, or especially showing them off with a pair of low block heels, cute!

Tiny Series | The Line

The concept of The Apartment by The Line is genius. Come shop in the immaculately beautiful Soho studio apartment every NYC girl wishes she had. And I don't mean studio like tiny twin-bed-only you can scramble your eggs from the bathtub kind of studio. I mean light-drenched, open-onto-the-fire-escape windows, room for yoga or pilates or even a 20 person party kind of studio. 

IMG_3366.JPG

Every last inch of it is as photogenic as the first. And it's surprisingly comfortable to walk around in, no pressure from the nearly invisible sales associates, no awkward forced vibes. It truly does feel as welcoming as a house would be. 

IMG_3466.JPG
IMG_3469.JPG

The cool thing is that every item in the rooms is for sale. Literally, anything you pick up you can buy. I had to laugh because there was a gorgeous mustard yellow purse sitting in the "closet" area of the store and I almost picked it up to look at it before I realized it belonged to another girl shopping there and wasn't for sale! The prices and the chicness are equivalent, so be prepared for that. But even so, it's beautiful just to enjoy. 

IMG_3465.JPG
IMG_3467.JPG

Keep an eye out for an elevator door on street level next time you're in Soho, and be sure to ride it to the third floor and be wowed by its sublime beauty and your major apartment envy.

Tiny Series | My Apartment

As with most anything in my life, I had a serious vision for my bedroom in New York. I knew it was tiny, and I was ready to work with that. Copenhagen color combos + a modern aesthetic with antique details were the phrases that kept buzzing around in my head. I also attempted to make it a little more gender neutral since Eric lives with me now. 

IMG_2075.JPG

I must say, I'm pretty proud of the way it turned out. While it is a touch more IKEA than I longed for (what can I say, I had a limited budget!), I still love the midcentury modern vibes and the rich pops of color. 

IMG_2900.JPG
IMG_2076.JPG

I adore our credenza-esque dresser, the mod white globe lamp, the vintage-y standing lamp, and the mix of art that Eric and I have collected. Plus that mustard yellow with the navy velvet pillows is just too good. 

IMG_3376.JPG

I work from home, so having a beautiful space in which to be is so important to me. I enjoy working from my favorite coffee shop down the block, and try new cafés often, but sometimes it's nice to just be at home where I know the wifi is reliable and I can watch Ina while my documents load.

Tiny Series | De Maria

Yes, I am one of those people who keeps a list of restaurants I want to visit. Truly I have entire notes on my phone dedicated to different cities. The thing I get sad about the most when the time comes around to get a new iPhone is not having all those notes at my fingertips (yes, I know I could transfer them over, but I abide by a very strict tabula rasa philosophy when it comes to new phones). Regardless, I knew, phone or not, that De Maria was at the top of my list once I moved. I made Eric come with me, and although he balked at the slightly more expensive menu, (just a fair warning), he'll still tell you it's one of the best breakfasts he's had in New York.

IMG_1955.JPG

The color palette is demure, but still hip. They do the millenial pink/instagram foodie/grain bowl chic trend in a very respectable and sophisticated way. A way that doesn't feel like it will fall out of fashion in two years, and in a way that doesn't make you feel like a fraud for going there (I'm looking at you rainbow bagels and cookie dough dessert shops).

IMG_1957.JPG
IMG_1980.JPG

My ordering recommendations: Cheese Biscuit (sounds random, but it's one of those things that every layer of flavor is thought through and is top quality) | Nigela Seed Potato Crisp (Eric's breakfast, and let's just say I was very jealous of it) | I've heard the Avocado Toast and the Banana Bread are fantastic as well. Sidenote: the china they use is beautiful, I've scoped out those mugs and they're done by the uber cool brand Workday Handmade

IMG_3402.JPG

Also, infinite shoutouts to a beautiful and good-smelling loo. De Maria's is very chic.

IMG_3403.JPG
IMG_3404.JPG

And under the glow of the Virgin Mary I leave you. Go to this place! You won't catch me brunching here regularly, because $15 avo toast isn't exactly on budget, but who doesn't want to indulge once in a while? Yum.

CALIFORNIA PHOTO DIARY

California: the land of hazy summer daydreams, glittering nights, and all day breakfast. I had been planning this trip in my head for months, and it almost didn't happen. But this coastal roadtrip most definitely did happen, and it was pretty stellar. My two brothers, my boyfriend, and me. The California coast, and a couple of car rentals that always somehow made us laugh. See a smattering of photos below and follow our loosely executed, jam packed week.

OUR ITINERARY INCLUDED:

  • Los Angeles | exploring Beverly Hills, Melrose Avenue (The Reformation store there is a must-see, the dressing rooms are something out of a Cinderella dream...you'll see what I mean when you go), Santa Monica for drinks and dinner, Venice Beach + a drive down the PCH to Laguna Beach
  • Palm Springs | weathering the 100+ degree temps, stopping by Salvation Mountain on our way out there, soaking up all the mid-century modern goodness, and hitting Joshua Tree National Park on the way back...it was a packed day
  • Santa Barbara | taking in the view of this Spanish inspired town from the tower at City Hall, catching some sun on the beach, authentic Mexican food, and seeing friends and their pups
  • Yosemite National Park | took my breath away and we completely took a day off our schedule to spend more time here, hiked The Mist Trail up a waterfall, measured ourselves against the massive El Capitan, and drove to several stunning view points
  • San Francisco | visiting one of my best friends, delicious Korean food, a Giants game, working our calves walking up those famous hills, and me oogling over the pastel creamy colored row houses and puffs of bougainvillea

2016 Notes to Self

A year in review...

I'm the queen of starting journals on the first of a new year, and it seems that 2017 is no different. But I thought a little month-by-month breakdown would be appropriate because the only way I can digest my life is in smaller segments. When I think back on 2016, each month boasts a unique feeling, a season of my life. Writing this was an exercise in being thankful as much as it was recording my year, it's easy to forget and forge forward. The end of December taps me on the shoulder and tells me to slow down, sift through, and settle in for a new month.

 

JANUARY // The biggest and best part of the first month of 2016 was the thick white snow that kept us snowed in for four days. Cabin fever set in early because it didn’t actually stop coming down for two days and all we had to eat was grilled cheese sandwiches. Luckily my parents rescued Eric and I and we ate fondue and watched As Good As It Gets about 12 times in a row. A few days later I took my first calligraphy class in Charlottesville, and my pen’s put many miles on it since!

FEBRUARY // February felt like an entire month of just killing time. My biggest trip yet was slowly coming, but I made the most of the month by having a reunion with high school girlfriends in DC, visiting the Renwick Gallery (it was beautiful, again), and the National Gallery of Art (I die for all the marble and textbook famous works in here), and a V-day trip with Eric to the Baltimore Aquarium.

MARCH // Oh, March. What an unforgettable month of 2016. We suffered through the 14+ hour flight to Thailand!! And boy was it worth it. As someone who’s seen much of Europe, and a lot of the U.S., I thought I knew every in and out about travelling. But Asia is otherworldly, the mosaic patterned temples every 14 steps, the intense smells from every street cart, the lines of orange cloaked monks in the airports, and the beaches that put any American shoreline to shame. I’ll never forget what it felt like to be clinging to the back of an overloaded tour truck, winding our way up a Himalayan peak, the wind freeing my ponytail from my drenched neck, the road passing beneath my feet, free.

APRIL // I spent April roadtripping up and down the east coast, visiting friends, and welcoming warmer days back into my life. I zipped up to Philly and New York City, then headed south to Atlanta at the very end of the month. Highlights included: those insanely buttery Amish soft pretzels at Reading Terminal Market and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the unsung hero of Art Museums), visiting the Glossier Showroom in NYC, and that feeling you get seeing a best friend for the first time in 6 months.

MAY // May was a very professional foot forward kind of month for me. We hosted an Editor Conference at my job which called for loads of prep work, logging long hours and sleepovers in Charlottesville, and several gorgeous cocktail parties and dinners. It was also the first strawberry pick of the season, a welcome symbol of the summer to come

JUNE // Birthday month! And, as a rule, my birthday month is my favorite month of the year. A month of firsts -- first beach trip of the summer...and first sunburn, first official day of summer, and first trip to NYC this year. 23 was an uneventful birthday, but June was a happy month overall.

IMG_6074.JPG

JULY // It’s my ultimate dream to have one of those kick ass, patriotic, dazzling firework display, hot dog induced coma Fourth of July’s. This year was maybe ¼ of that dream, I think I need my own Hamptons beach house for that to happen. The most important part of July 2016 was that I finally moved to my own place in the Fan! I was immediately broke, but happy nonetheless to be settling into my space with hardwood floors, a mantle in every room, and of course, the clawfoot tub.

AUGUST // My favorite part of August, and maybe the second half of the whole year was my trip to San Francisco. I saw zillions of things I loved -- from the pastel candy colored row houses, to the turquoise Pacific ocean, and of course my best friend Meredyth. I think I was laughing every second I was there, and took about 10,000 photos. I couldn’t have asked for a better end to the summer.

SEPTEMBER // More pastel architecture adventures this month...Eric and I stole away to Charleston, SC for Labor Day Weekend and it was so worth it. We laughed at the creepy hotel we stayed in, burned on the pristine Sullivan’s Island beach, and ate our way through a beautiful southern town. I’ll be the first to admit we had Jeni’s ice cream two times every day we were there. September was also when I started returning to my art. Forever a low-key artist, I am my best when I’m creating, and I felt at peace with a paintbrush in my hand at my still-new apartment.

OCTOBER // I took my little brother to his first concert, Leon Bridges (Melt. My. HEART!), Eric and I went apple picking, and my roommate and I hosted our first shindig for Halloween -- all three a great success. Not to mention, my team won the high stakes office Halloween costume competition. Spooky!

NOVEMBER // So many brave moments this month. I voted in an election I was proud to participate in. After listening to NPR for 17 months straight every single day on my two hour commute, I thought I knew everything there was to know about America and our candidates for president. I was crushed and confused and ultimately just sad, but I actively chose not to dwell in that oh so tempting pool of hatred and have been seeking out ways to make a difference with my actions to contribute to what I think is right. I had my first art show! It was scary and thrilling and only made me want to create more. I learned that being an artist means being yourself and that strangers are ultimately more important than friends.

DECEMBER // The sunset of 2016. I waited and waited and waited for this month all year. I was a tight ball of stress for the majority of it, but I got to participate in another art show, spend Christmas with Eric and my family, finally reveal to him that I planned a trip to Iceland and Amsterdam for us, create lots of festive art, and revel in one miraculous day where all my best pals from high school were in one city at one time for one whole outing. Heaven.